NewOrleansSaints.com will showcase one reason a day to get excited about the start of the 2013 New Orleans Saints Training Camp presented by Verizon. Reason No. 16 – Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram joined the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft (28th overall) and has become a key pience of the running back rotation with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. This offseason, Ingram changed his jersey number from 28 to 22, the number he wore while winning a Heisman Trophy for Alabama.

In 2012, he finished first on the team in rushing, carrying 156 times for 602 yards (a 3.9 average) and a team-leading five rushing touchdowns. Teammates voted Ingram as the 2012 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award after his successful comeback from knee and toe surgeries.

With the departure of Chris Ivory and a full offseason, Ingram looks to contribute in an increased role as part of the Saints' multi-faceted rushing attack.

Coach Sean Payton on Ingram (June 5, 2013):

“No. 1, I think he is healthy, he is moving around real well, he looks sudden and again this is all in shorts, but I’m excited to see him play this season. For a lot of players, it was disappointing last year; I think that obviously he will have an important role in what we do.”